Log type building structure



Jan. 25,1943.

Filed Oct. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet? flag@ F u. QWW. w m@ e FM .a 2 9%@ U au,

Patented Jan. 26, i943l 'UNEED S'i'' means OFFICE 7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in log Atype building structures, with particular reference to structures of that type in which half logs or slabs, having their natural contours exposed, are individually supported by a suitable frame.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a substantially air-tight, moisture and verminproof structure of the half log or slab type, which can be inexpensively produced, and which is less subject to decay than structures of said type as heretofore made.

Further objects are to preserve the natural log contours of the exposed surfacesto provide adequate heat insulation-to provide improved corner, door and window frame joints, and to allow each log to shrink without imposing strains or opening joints in a manner to allow entry of wind, water or vermin.

More specifically, it is my object to provide the half logs or slabs with eXible, or flexibly yielding, metallic connections along the opposing surfaces, said connections being substantially concealed and having a water shedding pitchY which increases as the logs tend to shrink and separate. Also, to provide metal strips of angle iron shape, having flanges of unequal width and adapted by reversal, to meet the requirements of logs of differing size or having dat top and bottom surfaces which vary in width in different portions of the wall.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the corner portion of a partially completed log structure, as viewed from the exterior along a line bisecting the angle. j

Figure 2 is a view of the same taken from a different angle and showing one wall with the inner side exposed and with battem'ng strips, insulation and portions of the inner log wall members partially broken away.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the half logs or slabs and its associated connecting metal strip.

Figure 4 is a similar view, showing a smaller log member having a correspondingly narrow top surface and with the metal strip reversed to apply its narrower flange to the top side of said member.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing two supershedding pitch in the direction of its outer margin.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a fragment of an inner angle corner.

Figure 7 is a detail View of a door frame or window joint, showing how the log members Vare prepared to receive the facing strips or trim'.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are sectional views, showing successive portions of a single tree trunk as they are respectively prepared for use as structural elements of my improved log type building structure.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The building frame may be constructed in any ordinary manner, 4X4 studs being preferably used. The top portions of the tree trunks may be utilized as rafters. The lower portions may be sawed longitudinally to provide slabs ofthe required dimensions, the edges being then sawed to provide topand bottom surfaces of the desired width. If the logs are of large diameter, the portions between the slabs may be utilized as boards or material from which boards may be cut. The intermediate portions of the tree trunk may be sawed longitudinally along* the center line to produce half logs and the edges trimmed to provide flat surfaces similar to those at the top and bottom margins of the slabs.

The half logs and slabs constitute the wall members of my improved building structure which serve as its outer and, if desired, the inner face of the wall.

In accordance with common practice, the lower course of outer wall members is first laid, leveled and nailed to the studs. For this course, the larger log members will be selected from those available if the preferred method is followed. After laying the first course of log members l0 and securing them to the studs I l metallic angle strips will be applied, each'having portions `l2 resting on the hat top surfaces of the rst course members, and flanges l I3 projecting upwardly in contact with the studs. The portions l2 will then be nailed to the first course log members along the outer margins of these portions, and the next course of log members superposed and nailed to the studs. From the inner side, the vertical flanges I3 will then be nailed to the superposed log members along their major, or vertically disposed flat surfaces.

Succeeding courses will be laid in the same manner, and each successive course may comprise logs which are smaller in the vertical dimension, if the available logs require such selection. When the wall is completed, each log member will be individually supported by the studs or frame members of the building and each will have its major or inner flat face secured to the vertical flange or flanges of the associated metal angle strip as to all log members above the bottom course. Also, each log member will have its at top face secured to the portions l2 of the associated angle strip or connecting member.

When the logs shrink, they do not settle to- 'of less width. than thosev of the larger' lower members and the width of the portions l2 of the. connecting members, I preferably reverse the connecting members as indicated in Figure 4, to bring their flanges I3 in contact with the top flat face of the log member below, and nail the wider portions I2 to the major flat or vertical face of the superposed log. I am thus enabled to avoid material exposure of metal edges at the outer face of the wall even though the smaller log members may have narrower top and bottom faces than those of the larger members.

The ilat top surface I5 of each log member may have an outer margin chiseled or planed off to an inclined plane to provide a nailing face for the horizontal llange of the connecting member as indicated at I6 in Figure 4, or the entire surface i5 may have a downward and outward inclination. The connecting members may be composed of galvanized sheet metal or other non-.corrosive strips, and, if desired, instead of inclining the top surface of any portion of the log member, the outer margin of the connecting strip may be slightly depressed by applying a roller or any other suitable tool just outside of the nailing line. Such a relatively inclined margin is indicated at l1 in Figure 3. The connecting strip being of light gage and flexible, it may easily be made to so incline, either before or after applying and nailing the strip in position.

At outer corners, alternate logs in oneof the mating courses are extended as indicated at I9 and in the other mating course, the intermediate logs are so extended as indicated at 20.

The logs which do not so extend are butted against the major flat or vertical surface of the companion log in the mating course.' `At windowV and door openings, studs are set to receive the ends of the logs. The ld'gs are cut away to provide flat end portions 22 toreceive the facing strips of the window and door openings.

Also, at window and door openings, I preferably bevel the log member at 23, between the rounded natural face and the portion 22. The rounded natural face is not only peeled by ordinary' bark removal, but is preferably re-peeled by removal of sap wood in areas of irregular dimensions, thereby enhancing the appearance of the structure.

At inner corners or re-entrant angles, the mating log members may all be beveled to produce mitered joints (Figure 6). Preferably at all corners", one or both flanges of the connecting strip are^extended as a separate flap 25 or 25 (Figure 1), to be lapped upon the ange of the mating strip or applied to an associated face of a mating log member. The metal is thin and has little or no tendency to separate superposed logs.

The inner face of my improved wall may be constructed in any suitable manner. I may use log members similar to those described for the outer wall or face, but ordinarily, no connecting strip will be required. While laying up the log members of the inner wall, I preferably apply battening strips 3l) (Figure 2), to the vertical flanges of the connecting strips used in the outer face, and then fill in the space between studs with heat insulating material 3l. The purpose of the battening strips also used between studs is to avoid all tendency of the metal strips to promote condensation by having metal surfaces in contact with the insulation, as might be the case if moist air were permitted to penetrate the inner wall face.

While I have described my invention as applied to a structure in which the log members extend horizontally, I do not limit its scope to exclude similar structures in which the log members are vertically disposed. In either case the metal strips are effective to exclude wind, water and vermin. Also, I do not limit the scope of my claims to structures in which the metal rests directly upon the log members as distinguished from structures in which a padding of oakum or similar yielding material is interposed.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated the manner in which I utilize substantially entire tree trunks. The butt end or lower portions have slabs I0 cut away to be used in the lower portions of my improved wall. The central portions are sawed into boards 35 which may be utilized as sheathing or roof boards. After cutting one or more boards from one or more lengths of the log, one or more of the next lengths may be longitudinally divided to form the top members of the wall. Beyondthese the top portions of the log may be cut into rafters 3l.

I claim:

l. In a building structure, the combination with a supporting frame, of exposed log-like members secured to the outer faces of the frame, with their natural log contours exposed, interposed impervious strips of flexible material, each having its outer margin secured to one edge of one of the log members and having an inner portion secured to the inner face of the opposing log member, each of said strips constituting an extensible seal between the two log members to which it is attached, an inner wall carried by said frame, and a lling of insulating material betweensaid walls protected'from the elements by said strips notwithstanding shrinkage and separation of said log members.

2; A building structure asset forth in claim 1, in which the sealing strips Aare formed of metal and their inner faces covered by non-metallic battening strips to protect the insulation from condensation.

3. In a building structure of the described type, an outer Wall comprising the combination of a set of superposed slab-like log members having outer faces substantially of natural log contours with the bark and portions of the sapwood removed, flexible metal strips interposed between the opposing edge margins of the wall members and marginally secured' to the top faces of the respective members, each metal strip having an inner portion secured to the inner face of the associated superposed member, said metal strips being substantially Wholly concealed by the wall members and adapted to maintain a wind, water and vermin-tight connection between them notwithstanding shrinkage of the wall members, and sealing means at the building corners connecting said strips with like strips in mating walls.

4. In a log type building structure, the combination with a supporting frame, of an outer Wall composed of horizontally disposed log-like members having flat top, bottom and inner surfaces, and outer surfaces of natural log contour, each of said members being connected with the frame for support independently of the other members, concealed sealing strips, each capping the top portion of one member and having its front margin secured thereto and its rear margin up-turned and secured to the inner face of the superposed member, whereby the rear margin of the capping portion of the strip is adapted to be progressively lifted upon separation of the logs during shrinkage to develop a water shedding pitch of the capping portion.

5. A building structure as set forth in claim 4, in which the capping portions of the connecting strips are extended at the corners and the extended portions lapped upon each other at the meeting ends of the capping strips pertaining to the respective walls.

6. In a log type building structure, the combination with a supporting frame, of an outer wall composed of a series of horizontally disposed saw trimmed wall members of slab-like contour, the outer surfaces of which have substantially natural log curvatures, a series of metal strips having longitudinally extending portions of different widths substantially at right angles to each other, some of said strips having their narrow portions capping the top face of a wall member and marginally secured thereto adjacent the outer surface of the wall member, and the other strips having their wider portions capping the tops of larger log members and similarly secured thereto, each of said strips having vertical portions extended along the inner faces of associated superposed log members and secured thereto, the intermediate capping portions of all the strips being free for exion increasingly to a water shedding position When shrinkage of the Wall members causes them to separate from each other.

7. A building structure, having in combination an exposed Wall face, comprising a series of superposed independently supported slab-like log members, having their natural log contours exposed and their upper and lower edges sawtrimmed to provide flat surfaces opposed to those of the adjacent log members in the series, elongated flexible metal sealing caps each covering the upper saw-trimmed edge of one log member and provided with an upturned flange along its rear margin secured to the rear face of the superposed log member along a line above the cap, each cap being also secured to the capped sawtrimmedv edge along a line corresponding generally with the front margin of said edge, and thek intermediate portions of the cap being adapted to yield vertically to maintain the seal when the log members separate by shrinkage.

FRED WILLIAMS. 

